‘A Million Little Things’ Season 1, Episode 1 ‘Pilot’ Recap: The Perfect One’s Gone

For its debut episode, ABC’s A Million Little Things definitely didn’t hold back on the drama. From the first five minutes, the floodgates were already pulled and nailed open. And we were left to stand in the face of an onslaught all too relatable. We all have friends. And one way or another, we’ve all kept secrets from each other. Some may be life-changing. Some may be little white lies.

Circling on something a little more devastating, A Million Little Things kicks off with four friends losing the golden member of the group. Each one of them were minding their own lives when out of the blue, the news drops. And in grieving, they realize that maybe their friendship wasn’t as chummy as they thought it was. And it only gets more complicated from there on. It gets sadder, a little lighter, and a whole lot twistier that definitely comes close to the messed up bits of real life.

The question is why

From a shiny office building in Boston, Jon (Ron Livingston) tries to seal a business deal while Eddie (David Giuntoli) rushes to pack up and leave his wife for his mistress. Meanwhile, their friend Gary (James Roday) awaits to hear if his breast cancer is back. And the last member of the group, Rome (Romany Malco) prepares to down a handful of pills. As he shoves the pills into his mouth, Gary calls him. Rome picks up only to find out that Jon has killed himself. Apparently, after sealing the deal, Jon’s secretary Ashley (Christina Ochoa) walks in on him jumping from his office balcony. She runs to him but is too late.

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Two weeks beforehand, Jon, Eddie, Gary, and Rome were in their usual Boston Bruins game. They were still making fun of Eddie’s stay at home dad situation, Gary’s cancer, and the movie Rome always promises he’d make but never does. Everything seemed fine with Jon. And as the remaining three reunite and grieve his death, they ask themselves why.

Gary recalls that when he spoke to Ashley, she said that it was a normal day and nothing seemed wrong. Rome’s wife Regina (Christina Moses) asks why Jon didn’t leave a note. And it turns out that after calling for help, Ashley noticed a blue envelope addressed to Jon’s wife, Delilah (Stephanie Szostak). She took it and hid it in a drawer without anyone knowing.

The day before the funeral, Gary goes to a breast cancer support group meeting. There, he acquaints himself with the newcomer Maggie (Allison Miller). And after the session, the two hook up in the bathroom. Meanwhile, Rome almost tells his wife about his own attempt. However, he gets tongue-tied and instead agrees to go on their planned vacation as Jon would’ve wanted.  

Losing sight of the horizon

At the funeral, Eddie tells everyone how he still expects Jon to burst through the doors. Right on cue, Gary bursts in with Maggie. After recovering, Eddie goes on to tell everyone how he, Jon, and the others met through getting stuck in an elevator. Jon got them talking, and when he discovered they were all Bruins fans, he made it a tradition for the four of them to go to every single game. From then, they started a decade-long friendship. In that time, Rome got married. Gary beat cancer. And Jon helped Eddie get sober.

Jack Rowand/ABC

Later on in the reception, Delilah asks Ashley if she knew why Jon did what he did. But, Ashley simply shakes her head. Eddie arrives with his wife Katherine (Grace Kim) but, she makes it clear that she wouldn’t be staying long because of work. As she talks to Delilah, Gary introduces Maggie to Eddie, Rome, and Regina. Regina asks if it was really Eddie’s eulogy that made Maggie cry because accordingly, Gary took Rebeca on a horrendous date a long time ago. And Maggie quickly claps back asking if he’s ever ended their date with a funeral. This quickly earned her the good graces of the group at Gary’s expense.

Afterward, they settle on to the couches as they ponder on why Jon didn’t say anything. And Maggie compares it to John F. Kennedy Jr.’s death. She says that he was a capable pilot but, when the clouds rolled in and his instruments were telling which way was up, he didn’t trust them. He lost sight of the horizon, and it was too late when he realized it. That’s depression. And Jon might’ve not had depression but, he might’ve had secrets he was hiding from even his closest friends.

Tickets to friendship

Gary tries to make the conversation lighter by playing at Maggie’s armchair psychology stunt. But, Maggie reveals that she really is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in depression. And as they prepare to leave later on in the night, Rome approaches her to ask for her call card. Gary questions it but, Rome simply brushes it off saying that he needs a therapist for a film. Suddenly, the three men’s phones start buzzing and ringing to the Bruins game alarm Jon had them all set. And Delilah convinces them to go to the game for Jon.

Jack Rowand/ABC

Eddie, Rome, and Gary head onto Jon’s office to get the tickets where they find Ashley working late. She lets them into Jon’s office and Gary fiddles with Jon’s phone. As he goes through the calls log, he finds out that Jon’s last call was to Eddie. Eddie recalls that he turned off his phone at the time because he was teaching guitar lessons. And he sinks into the realization that he could’ve done something to stop Jon.

Meanwhile, back at the house, Regina and Maggie stay behind to comfort Delilah. The conversation soon turns to Maggie and Gary’s breast cancer similarities. And Delilah notes that Gary’s always afraid that it’s going to come back, even if he’s in remission. Maggie admits feeling the same way.  

After getting the tickets, the guys head into a bar. Eddie proposes a toast but, Gary downright refuses. He rants on about how useless the time they spent with each other was. He emphasizes that the last time that they’ve really talked about the important things was in the elevator before they all became friends. And he drives the point home betting that they didn’t even know the color of his eyes.

Jon’s gifts

Back with the girls, Maggie asks about Regina’s old restaurant. Regina says it closed down because her partner back then leased a space they couldn’t pay. Jon helped her pay for it which keeps her motivated to open up a place again one day. Suddenly, Delilah tells them to grab their coats. She drives them to a big, rustic, building which Regina immediately recognizes to have a great restaurant space in the bottom floor. And Delilah reveals that it’s the last real estate deal Jon bought. She faces Regina and tells her that Jon bought it for her. And all because he believed in her.

Jack Rowand/ABC

On the other hand, as the guys enter the arena, Eddie keeps trying to use Jon’s “All things happen for a reason” motto on Gary. But, Gary simply refuses to bite. Eddie then confesses that he’s in love with someone else. He wants to leave his wife but, he has to make sure everything’s ok with their son Theo (Tristan Byon) first. Eddie tries to tie it back to Jon but, Gary tells him to quit relating everything to their friend jumping off a building. Gary simply doesn’t believe that things happen for a reason.

They settle in as the game starts and Gary challenges Eddie asking him for one good thing that came out of Jon’s death. From the side, Rome speaks up confessing that he had a mouthful of pills when he answered the phone. If Gary hadn’t called, he would be dead. Rome admits that despite having an incredible life and an amazing wife, he just feels hopeless. And he thought that if he just stopped, it wouldn’t hurt as much. He also states matter of factly that Gary’s eyes are hazel before breaking down in tears in his friend’s arms.

The messier bits and pieces

Later on, the trio ends up cheering to another win for the Bruins. Eddie sends out a message to his mistress telling her he needs to see her and that he loves her. And on the receiving end of that message is none other than Delilah. A while later that night, he shows up on her doorstep. And Delilah throws him a big what if. What if Jon knew about them and that’s why he did it? Eddie assures her that he didn’t. And if she told him that she doesn’t love him, he’ll walk away and never look back. However, Delilah counters that if he loved her, he’d walk away before closing the door on him.

Upon getting home, Eddie checks his phone to see the missed call from Jon. He opens a bottle of alcohol and almost pours himself a glass. But, his son comes down into view and stops him from giving in to the temptation. Instead, he spends time playing the guitar and singing to the kid.

Meanwhile, Ashley lingers on in the office. She tears the blue envelope open and finds some files about something entitled “Rutledge.” She also finds the softcopy files and everything about it on Jon’s computer and erases it.

The better things that came out of it

On the other hand, Maggie comes home to a call from her doctor after going for a run. Her doctor scolds her for missing out on chemo and reminds her that it’s her cooperation that would beat her cancer. A few minutes later, Gary comes knocking at her doorstep with a box of goodies and she envelopes him in a hug.

Jack Rowand/ABC

And lastly, Rome busts out some of the very first tapes he has of Jon back when they were stuck in the elevator. He watches as Jon talks about things happening for a reason. He listens as Jon promises that no matter how bad it seems, he’ll find the good there is. And right on cue, the fire department pries open the elevator doors. Rome then closes his laptop and crumples his suicide letter before joining his wife in bed. He embraces her tight and whispers “I love you” in her ear.

A little while later, Gary texts Rome telling him to come to the door. Rome comes out and picks up a framed selfie of him, Eddie, and Gary on the game they just watched smiling and happy as if Jon wasn’t gone.

‘A Million Little Things’ Season 1 Premiere Overall Verdict

A Million Little Things hit us quite hard on the drama and all the conflict with just the pilot episode. There was too much going on, and the pacing was just too fast that it felt like being caught in the climax of another story. And though there was ample humor, sometimes the drama was being laid on a little too thick. In all honesty, it felt like an overplayed, and overdramatized version of This Is Us. But, if there’s one thing that we’ve learned from this, it’s too look for the good out of all the bad.

The most interesting thing about A Million Little Things is the numerous subplots it has to offer. It’s kind of messed up, and relationships might’ve popped out too strong but, it actually works to keep the surprise and interest factor. Another notable thing is how directly the show addresses the issue of mental health. Getting a show this direct is rare. And it’s interesting to see how it will continue to treat it. Unlike This Is Us, A Million Little Things immediately sets off with the worse part. And maybe it’s worth giving a chance to get to the better parts.

A Million Little Things continues next Wednesday, October 3rd, with “Band of Dads” at 10/9c on ABC.